22: January, 2006

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. NEWSLETTER

No. 22: January, 2006.

TAMMY’S YEAR 12 SACE PROJECT Inside this issue:

• Tammy’s Year 12 On 3rd November a small group of friends and supporters gathered SACE Project at the Unley Civic Centre for the launch of Tammy Lane’s Year 12 • Butterfly House nr SACE project. Her project was completed under a negotiated Niagara Falls Canada curriculum for students with disabilities (Tammy has Down • Mutton cove Syndrome) called Community Studies. As her final subject in year Conservation Reserve • 12 Tammy illustrated 24 butterfly species and their larval host Make your own ‘flying’ butterfly plants as a way of promoting the planting of butterfly host plants. • Excursion (5th Feb 06) • Andy Young field notes Tammy used two cameras (Nikon 990 and Konica KD310Z) to • Butterfly Campaign photograph local host plants. Most of the plant photos were taken update on the Unley Council native planting site at Windsor Street Unley. • Caper Whites She also visited the SAMuseum to photograph our local urban • New Members butterflies and also managed some field shots of adults resting on • Diary Dates flowers.

With the aid of the computer programs Adobe Photoshop, Power Point and Irfanview Tammy produced 24 posters, each with a photograph of different host plants along with the butterflies (larva) that feed on them. Mum, Karen assisted with the accompanying text and Dad Chris helped with the computer technology, printing and copying.

Tammy Lane and Unley Mayor Michael Keenan discuss the butterfly project.

The display at Unley was so successful that following that exhibition, it was further displayed in the Mitcham Council Offices. Well done Tammy.

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. for membership enquiries and annual membership payments ($10): Treasurer, 13/4 Randolph Avenue, PARKSIDE. 5063 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. NEWSLETTER January, 2006 Issue 22 Page 2

BUTTERFLY HOUSE near NIAGARA FALLS CANADA

One of the reasons that this Newsletter is a little late is because the Editor and producer of the newsletter Jan Forrest has been overseas. During her visit to St.Catherines near Niagara Falls Jan visited the Niagara Falls butterfly house and took the following photos to show members.

Top Left: Left Butterfly House with high glass atrium. Right inside the Butterfly House Second Left large female Troides birdwing from SE Asia. Centre: ‘Julias’ Dryas julia from tropical Americas on feeding tray. Right: ‘Tailed Jay’ Graphium agamemnon from SE Asia. Third Left: outside gardens include a selection of nectar plants. Right: walkways through the House. Bottom Right: ’large owls and morphos’ from tropical Americas; brilliant blue colours on wing uppersides are hidden.

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. Membership $10.00 pa Applications and renewals to: Lois Hasenohr, 13/4 Randolph Avenue, PARKSIDE. 5063 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. NEWSLETTER January,January, 2005 2006 IssueIssue 19 22 Page Page 3 3

MUTTON COVE CONSERVATION RESERVE Peri Coleman, Delta Environmental Consulting, 12 Beach Road, ST KILDA SA 5110 www.deltaenvironmental.com.au

On Sunday 1st May last year the Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve had its Open Day. Environment Minister John Hill and the press came, and so did nearly 300 visitors.

Visitors were offered the opportunity to: * have a guided tour of the site (tour guides included Coast Protection Branch staff, and local WaterWatch/Our Patch volunteers), * watch Conservation Volunteers Australia demonstrate fencing methods, * eat lots of sausages and rehydrate on the provided drinks, * browse the displays (Dolphin Sanctuary, Catchment Boards, PDS, Waterwatch, Urban Forest Biodiversity Program, Our Patch, Coast Protection Board, and Heritage Branch), and * assist in the planting of Adriana klotschii (with Project Dolphin Safe)**.

Many of the Adriana were grown by Helen Bisset of Gawler, while others were grown by staff of Delta Environmental Consulting at St Kilda. All were donated to the project, and delivered to the site through the good offices of Aaron Machado of Project Dolphin Safe. The newly planted specimens will be watered until the onset of winter rains by Vit Karnaitis, a local volunteer, using a ute-mounted water tank donated by PDS.

There will be many more opportunities for people to get involved with Mutton Cove, which contains the last intertidal wetlands on the LeFevre Peninsula along with a southern area of sandy dredge-fill that will be progressively revegetated with dune species. The site has two historic Mutton Cove Boundary wrecks, well maintained smooth walking paths (approximately 3km LeFevre Peninsula Port Adelaide. of paths), views across the saltmarsh and across the river to Torrens Island, information signage explaining the points of interest in the site, visiting dolphins that cruise along the outer seawall (one of the best dolphin spotting sites I know), migratory birds, and a startling regrowth on mangrove and saltmarsh plants (since the tidal regime was improved).

Planting Days and Cleanup Days are held regularly, and Project Dolphin Safe will happily email their newsletter to interested organisations. PDS has a vegetation management plan for the site that enables them to co-ordinate appropriate plantings across the site by many different community groups.

Future plans for the site include a shelter for picnickers and a small Wilsonia mat landing in the creek so that the Waterwatch volunteers can more easily access the water to monitor the site's health. The site has a specific monitoring program that looks at water quality, tidal regimes and vegetation change. People interested in the results of the monitoring, or in participating, should contact either John Wood of the Pat & Torrens CWMB, or Sam Penney of the Coast Protection Branch.

EDITOR NOTE: **Adriana klotschii (Bitterbush) is the larval host plant of the Bitterbush blue butterfly Theclinesthes albocincta. This butterfly is presently only found on Torrens Island within the Adelaide area.

Above: Excelsior wreck. Right: The Cove BUTTERFLYBUTTERFLY CONSERVATION CONSERVATION SA SA Inc. Inc. NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER January, January, 2006 2005 Issue Issue 22 19 Page Page 4 4

MAKE YOUR OWN ‘FLYING’ BUTTERFLY

You will need: Two pieces of wire Long nosed pliers/wire cutter Paper scissors Glue Paints or coloured pencils Rubber band

When you have assembled your ‘butterfly’ with the rubber band to the top and bottom wires, hold the hind wings and rotate the forewings, twisting the rubber band, then let go!

Top wire - starts at the left forewing to the centre, make a downward loop (to take rubber band) then out to the right forewing. Bottom/abdomen wire - start with a upwards loop, then form right side of abdomen, make a circle (for the top wire loop to fit into) back down the left side of abdomen then another upwards loop (to take rubber band). Use the wings above as a template. Good Luck.

WEBSITE ADDRESSES: ‘Butterflies of South Australia’ http://www.chariot.net.au/~rgrund/index.htm BCSA http://www.chariot.net.au/~bcsa/index.htm BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. NEWSLETTER January,January, 20052006 Issue Issue 2219 Page Page 4 5

EXCURSION TO MINAWARRA

MINNAWARRA, Springmount Road near Myponga to assist with a butterfly survey. 5th February 2006. 4WD vehicles would be useful (although not essential) as access to some of the sites are very steep. Bring picnic lunch, rubber boots may also be useful. Meet at Minnawarra 10.30am see attached sheet for directions. RSVP: to Jan Forrest 8297 8230 or [email protected] / [email protected]

Field and other notes, Summer 2005 by D.A (Andy) Young, R.S.D 330 Newlands Service, via Kingscote, 5223: Port MacDonnell trip:

Between the 25th and the 28th of January I undertook a trip to Pt MacDonnell in the south-east corner of the state. I spent the 3 and a bit days of my observational studies in the Germain Reserve area, a regenerated remnant swamp and associated Eucalyptus woodland and open grasslands to the north of the township. I was lucky enough to observe several of the rare species that occur in the area. The Dark Purple Azure, Ogyris abrota, was noted as eggs, larvae and pupae around clumps of the mistletoe, Muelleriana eucalyptoides. Pupae of the Broad-margined Azure, Ogyris o. olane were also found in the area. A single adult Azure flew around me as I was wedged in a Eucalypt, looking for early stages of Ogyris butterflies, however I didn’t have the freedom of movement to be able to follow the insect with my eyes and confirm its identity.

The uncommon Sword-grass Brown, Tisiphone abeona albifascia, was noted in the swamp sections of the area and in adjacent surrounds on occasions. Sightings were frequent. The rare Kershaw’s Brown, Oriexenica kershawi kanunda, were noted in moderate numbers, flying along open areas and into dense vegetation adjacent to the swamps. Several skippers, including the Variable Sedge-skipper, Hesperilla d. donnysa, the Flame Skipper, Hesperilla i. idothea, the Barred Skipper, Dispar compacta and the Splendid Ochre, Trapezites symmomus soma, were observed in various stages of development and numbers.

Flame Skippers were noted on a few occasions in the area adjacent to the swamp, and larvae at about 4th instar stage were located on a Gahnia trifida in the main swamp section. A male was also noted late in the afternoon patrolling a territory near the entrance to Clark’s Park. On similar plants in smaller semi-swamp sections in the main channel area, larvae of Variable Sedge-skippers were located, estimated to be late 3rd instar or 4th instar stage.

Adult male Barred Skippers were noted in low numbers on flowers on open areas in the channel section. Splendid Ochres were observed in relatively large numbers in the open Eucalyptus woodlands at the northern end of the area. A female of this species was observed laying an egg on a spent flower head of a Lomandra longifolia. Several examples of the Common Dusky-blue, Candalides h. hyacinthina, were noted on the first few days, flying in the proximity of Cassytha pubescens. Two mature larvae of the species were located on the 28th. Other species noted during my period of observation were: the Small White, Pieris rapae (very common throughout); the Common Brown, Heteronympha m. merope (common in wooded areas); Klug’s Xenica, Geitoneura klugii (locally common in some wooded areas); the Meadow Argus, Junonia villida (several); the Australian Admiral, Vanessa itea (several); the Australian Painted Lady, Vanessa kershawi (occasional) and the Common Grass-blue, Zizina labradus (very common throughout).

A note was made of an unusual sighting of a small butterfly, that was of a similar size and shape to the Barred Skipper, but with the upper side of the wings coloured indigo blue, with white marginal markings. The butterfly was observed from a distance of about 2 meters, feeding on a Cats-ear dandelion flower.

A note of caution to those who might want to explore this wonderful area: snakes, including large Copper-head and Tiger snakes, abound in the swamps and grasslands- however, it is a beautiful spot and the birds and botany are very interesting. I hope I can get back in spring sometime to look for orchids.

Oriexenica kershawi kanunda Photo: Roger Grund

BUTTERFLY CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Work on compiling a database of hostplants is continuing and thanks to Lee Heard and Maria Johns for their work on this part of the project especially the tedious task of checking spelling and scientific names against the Flora of SA database. We still need offers of help from someone with layout and publishing experience to assist us with compiling and set- ting up the proposed booklet on ‘butterfly gardening’. If you can help please contact the Jan Forrest c/- SA Museum or at [email protected].

CAPER WHITES

A note from Bryan Haywood on 16 November 2005 from the Southeast of South Australia, in response to an email from Roger Grund on 15 November regarding a massive migration of the Caper White butterflies (Belenois java)

“Hundreds and possibly thousands down here in the Southeast. Almost as good as 1999.

I was in Ngarkat on Saturday Nov 12th and we had 300-600 up the Pinnaroo Road heading in a W, NW, to N direction and seemed to be on their way back north. Comet Bore had Synemon parthenoides, Vanessa itea/kershawi, Junonia villida, Caper's everywhere (in the several 100's), and Pieris. Also saw a Motasingha trimaculata north of Comet feeding on Pimelea octophylla and several Candalides acasta.

The Pollard walk at Penambol CP had 15 Capers in the 20 min stroll back two weeks ago, which was nice. Weather has been rough and cold since, heading out tomorrow with the local ABC radio reporter for a chat about it.

At Mt Burr (2 weekends ago) there were several hundred Caper Whites swarming over fruit trees shortly before dusk, all moving with the slight breeze towards the west.

Everywhere I've been since early October they have been present. First sighting was Oct 2nd at Cantara in the Coorong of one individual, then several on Oct 5 near Heywood (Vic), then Oct 10 at Mt Gambier. All males too, until only recently when females were more obvious and helped to boost numbers.”

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SA Inc. WELCOME TO NEW Chairman: Roger Grund MEMBERS: Secretary and Newsletter Editor: Jan Forrest OAM C/- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, ADELAIDE, 5000 ph 08) 82077503. Linda Builth email < [email protected] > Annette MacDonald Treasurer : Lois Hasenohr , 13/4 Randolph Avenue, PARKSIDE. 5063 Diane Trewberth Sturt Upper Reaches OUTREACH PROGRAM Landcare The full exhibition and AO size panels from the Exhibition “Where have all the Lionel Edwards Butterflies gone?” are available from Jan Forrest at the South Australian Museum Margie Barnett for use by Landcare and other Conservation groups at seminars, conferences and Peter Leppard workshops or just for display. Included are five introductory panels, and seventeen Juliette Groves panels from seven habitat areas: Coastal, Grasses, Mallee, Urban, Migration/ Jennifer Gardner Vagrant, Eucalyptus Forrest/Woodland, Arid, Wetland and Lower South East. JK Judith Lydeamore Kay Ellis DIARY DATES MEETINGS - Committee meetings are held bi-monthly (usually the second Monday of the month) at 6.00pm in the Urrbrae Wetlands Resource Centre, Cross Roads, Urrbrae. All members are welcome to attend. If you would like further information or receive an agenda please contact Secretary Jan Forrest or Chairman Roger Grund NOTE: Next meeting will be held on Monday 6th February.

EXCURSIONS - Minnawarra near Myponga—10.30 am 5th February 2006.

WEB SITES ‘Butterfly Conservation SA Inc.’ http://www.chariot.net.au/~bcsa/index.htm ‘South Australian Butterflies’ http://www.chariot.net.au/~rgrund/index.htm